Oyama Karate????

Question

What is the diffrence in Oyama Karate and just Karate? What is Oyama? And is karate considered a sport? I know its a martial art, but are martial arts considered sports?

Answer 1

Lupine got the majority of the answer right, except for the fact that all karate is not the same, they have different phylosiphies, movements are performed differently, etc. The different styles are just bundled under the generic term "karate". I also definetly disagree with her statement that karate is a sport, because karate used for what it was originally developed for, self defense, is definetly not a sport.

The original Okinawin styles were developed using indiginous fighting techniques with Kung Fu techniques that were learned by the Okinawins from Chinese diplomats. sailors, and merchants. Okinawin karate if it is taught and trained well is anything but a sport. Karate was introduced to Japan by Funikoshi, and many of the techniques and phylosiphies were modified to be less lethal. Many of the Japanese style's have transformed into being more sport oriented, but still have very effective self defense as well. Kyokoshin that Oyama karate came from is in itself actually an offshoot of Shotokan, which is the style Funikoshi introduced.

Many of the American styles that are out there now were developed totally for sport, many by people who got their Black Belt and thought it qualified them to start their own style to make money. That is one reason that karate is now looked down upon, because people who only had the most basic knowledge saw an oppurtunity to make money, and developed very inferior styles, and have turned out many inferior Black belts.

As Lupine pointed out her boyfriend developed his own style of karate, which since I don't know him I can't say for sure, but I would bet it is sport based, probaly learned from a sport based instructor, as these kind of people generally do not know much more then the basics.

Answer 2

Mas Oyama is the guy who founded Kyokushin Karate.  So Oyama Karate typically just means Kyokushin.  However, Mas Oyama just so happened to have a student by the same name who broke off and developed his own style under the name Oyama Karate.  So sometimes that's what the name refers to although it is still usually Kyokushin.

There is no difference between Oyama Karate and Karate.  That's like asking what the difference is between chocolate cake and cake.  Chocolate is just the type of cake whereas Oyama is just the style of Karate.  All cake has to be some sort of flavor; all Karate has to be some kind of style.  Is it Shotokan, Byakuren, Kyokushin, Goju, etc?

Yes, Karate is a sport by definition.

Answer 3

Mas Oyama is the founder of modern kyokushin karateif its relted to him thats probably the art....not sure on the sport aspect thoughgood question....